Power-operated posthole digging machine



Dec, 19, 1950 A. SHACKLETTE 2,534,628

POWER OPERATED POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 425567 5 JfiackZeZi/e INVENTOR.

1950 A. SHACKLETTE POWER OPERATED POST new DIGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18. 1945 m w mm Z W J [N V EN TOR.

Patented Deco 19, 1950 asses POWER OPERATED POSTHOLE DIGGING MACHINE' Albert Shacklette, J eifersontown, Ky.

ApplicationDecember 18, 1945, Serial No. 635,703

1 2'Clai1ns.

This invention relates to power-operatedpost hole digging machines,-and particularly to-'power= operated post hole diggers of the portable type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character embodying a single supporting wheel and vertically adjustable supporting legs disposed at the rear of the body portion of thedevicasaid supporting legsadapted to hold the machine against lateral movement, during the operation-f the machine in drilling a post'hole:

Still another" object of the invention is to provide a machine which may be conveniently moved from place to place by lifting the machine with the handles, the handles constituting 'portions of the-side rails of the machine, so that the weight of the machine is thrown forwardly onto the supporting wheel thereof to permitthe-machine to be moved much in thesame manner as a wheelbarrow.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a poweroperated post hole digger, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the operating mechanism used in raising and lowering the auger or bit of the machine.

Figure i is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine embodies a frame comprising side rails 5 that have their forward ends extended downwardly as at 5, the forward ends of the side rails converging towards the outer ends thereof, where they are connected by means of the axle l on which the supporting wheel 8 is mounted. The rear ends of the side rails 5 are formed into spaced handles a, affording means whereby the operator of the machine, may elevate the rear end of the machine and move the machine over the ground surface, in much the same manner as a wheelbarrow.

Mounted on the body portion I 0 of the frame, are spaced supporting bars ii that provide a 2? support for "the-internal combustion engine indicated. by the reference; character it. Brace bars l3 extend from the forward ends of the/for wardly extendedv end portions 6, and connect with the siderailsfi, at a point directly under the internal combustion'engine i2, tobrace 'the frame atthis point; so that it will better withstand the weight of the engineand. mechanism supported onv the frame.

Disposed adjacent :to the handles 5; are tubular supports i lthrough whichtheadjustable legs '55 move, thereebeingr'provi'ded,securingscrews it that extend. through threadedv openings in the tubularsupports' Hi, to-engage the'adjustable legs and secure them :in'their proper positions of Jad justment.

Cross-bars ll rest on the supporting bars. H, andzprovide abase for the-gearbox i8-in which the gear i9 operates, the "gear.- I9 being formed with a square openingwthrough which the square shaft 26 moves, the connection between the gear [9 and shaft 20 being such that rotary movement of the gear will impart rotary movement to the shaft 2t, but at the same time permits the shaft to move through the gear box and gear i9.

Extending into the gear box, is a shaft 2% on the inner end of which is mounted the pinion 22, the pinion 22 meshing with the gear is, to rotate the gear and shaft 20. Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 2| is a sprocket 23 over which the chain 24 operates, the chain 2d also passing over the small sprocket 25 secured to one end of the shaft 25. The shaft 26 operates in the bearing 2'! and carries the pulley 28 on one end thereof, the pulley receiving motion from the main power shaft 29 of the internal combustion engine l2, through the belt 3t, which is also shown as moving over the pulley 35 mounted on the shaft 29.

The reference character 32 indicates the auger or bit, which is carried at the lower end of the shaft 20 and which forms the post hole, when rotated.

When digging the post hole, it is also necessary to feed the auger or bit 32 downwardly, and this feeding of the bit is accomplished through the medium of the pinion 33 that is mounted in the gear box 34 carried at the upper end of the shaft 20. The pinion 33 meshes with the rack bar 35 that is disposed in parallel spaced relation with the shaft 29, the lower end of the rack bar being bolted to the gear box l8, by means of the bolt 36. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, when the pinion 33 is rotated, by means of the capstan arms 3! secured to one end of the shaft on which pinion 33 is mounted, the shaft 20, together with the auger or hit 32 may be moved vertically. A pivoted pawl indicated by the reference character 38 is adapted to engage the teeth 39 of the ratchet wheel also secured to the shaft on which the pinion 33 is mounted, whereby the shaft 20 may be held in its elevated position, when the machine is being moved from place to place.

Upstanding brace rods 40 extend from the body portion 10, and connect with the upper end of the rack bar 35, at 41, as clearly shown by Fig. l of the drawings.

In the operation of the machine, the machine is moved along on the supporting Wheel 8, and when positioned at the desired location for boring a post hole, the rear end of the frame is lowered and the adjustable legs l5 are moved to the proper position to support the rear end of the machine while in operation.

The motor is now started and the shaft 20 is lowered until the free end of the anger or bit touches the ground surface. As the auger or bit rotates, the post hole will be bored. During the boring operation, it will be understood that the operator will feed the shaft together with the auger or bit downwardly, until the post hole has been dug to the proper depth.

By reversing the movement of the capstan, the

shaft 20 together with its auger or bit, will be elevated and the device may now be moved to the location for digging the next post hole.

From the foregoing detailed description of the device, a further description as to the operation of the machine is believed unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable earth boring machine, a support, a stationary gear box mounted on the support, a rack bar rising from the gear box, brace rods secured to the support and being connected with the upper end of the rack bar securing the rack bar in an upright position, a movable gear box having an opening through which the rack bar extends, a bit shaft on which the gear box is mounted, a bit at the lower end of the bit shaft, said bit shaft and bit extending through an opening in the stationary gear box, a shaft and pinion operating within the vertically movable gear box, said pinion engaging the rack bar at a point within the movable gear box, moving the bit shaft and bit vertically feeding the bit to its work, and means for rotating the bit shaft and bit in forming a post hole.

2. In a portable earth boring machine, a frame, a stationary gear box mounted on the frame, an auger carrying shaft rotatabl journaled in said gear box, said auger shaft extending through an opening in said gear box for vertical longitudinal movement with respect thereto, means including said gear box for rotating said auger shaft dur ing longitudinal movement thereof, a stationary rack bar carried by said frame and positioned in spaced parallel relationship to said shaft, a carrier member mounted at the upper end of said auger shaft having an opening therein through which the rack bar extends, a pinion mounted within said carrier and movable therewith, and in engagement with the teeth of said rack bar and manually operated means for rotating said pinion to raise and lower said auger shaft.

ALBERT SHACKLETTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 515,731 Daugherty et a1. Feb. 27, 1894 1,370,430 Goldner Mar. 1, 1921 1,575,146 Brown Mar. 2, 1926 

